It goes without saying that DDO has seen a considerable amount of drama as of late. It equally goes without saying that the drama we have seen is only so because of the irrationality of those who partook in it. Without naming names, we've seen the reappearance of several figures who for various reasons have been banned from the site. I'll be the first to admit that I have surely been a part of that process, but now, let us take a moment to reflect.

This is fundamentally an online community purposed for and predicated upon the exchange of ideas. More than that, we've become friends as we've come to know one another through interactions in the forums, as some of us have made really cool videos about the site and its members, and as we've learned from each other along the way. But summer is upon us, and we have a choice to make.

The choice we have to make is this: do we want this summer to be productive, or filled with drama. It's not that I hate drama, or that I even dislike it -but I recognize as I think most of us do that there are better things we could be doing. What are they? Playing mafia, starting new -interesting- debates in the challenge section and posting challenging questions about issues, values, ideals and principles that affect our lives and the lives of those we care about. Is gossip juicy? Yes -but gossip is like Belgian waffles; delicious when chewed and swallowed but it just leaves you hungry an hour later. Debates aren't like that. Debates are substantive. Debates matter. Gossip/drama is fleeting. Debates are like steaks on a friday night. Think about it. So, let's minimize the gossip/drama -because it's nonsense.

Let's instead tackle something bolder. Let's figure out how long it will take for the Republicans to blow the lid on the latest IRS scandal. Let's talk about Benghazi. Let's talk about Syria, debate education policy, talk about bitcoins, fret over the coming battle regarding net neutrality, figure out how terrorist attacks can be prevented, hope that Jodi Arias is put before a firing squad, argue for moral theories, and lambast the tea party -or not.

Summer is upon us, DDO. We can become a site with all the value of a grocery store tabloid, or we can continue to challenge ideas, defend principles, and debate policy as the most elite debate site on the net.

Post ideas below for the most important topics to discuss. Important topics are the topics that matter to you, which you or those you care about are connected to, which you have a stake in, which you have a view of. Let's hear it, DDO!

(1) Scandals in Obama's administration(2) Syria(3) Benghazi(4) Free Speech(5) The Gosnell trial and it's implications for the pro-choice/pro-life debate.(6) NSA and FBI downloading all data online, using a supercomputer system in Utah to break the encryption and running anti-government algorithms on all online communication.(7)(8)(9)(10)

Of course I'm using those fallacies; they're the only logical ones." - f3ffy

At 5/24/2013 4:33:01 PM, TameHumanoid wrote:Is there a reason that RyuuKyuzo's concern was ignored?

(1) Scandals in Obama's administration(2) Syria(3) Benghazi(4) Powerlifting vs. Bodybuilding(5) Free Speech(6) The Gosnell trial and it's implications for the pro-choice/pro-life debate.(7) NSA and FBI downloading all data online, using a supercomputer system in Utah to break the encryption and running anti-government algorithms on all online communication.(8)(9)(10)

Sorry, honest mistake on my part!

"See now Oblivion shimmering all around us, its very tranquility deadlier than tempest. How little all our keels have troubled it."
- Lord Dunsany -

"Over her head the stars, the thoughts of God in the heavens,
Shone on the eyes of man, who had ceased to marvel and worship"
- Henry Longfellow -

"We enjoy, we see nothing by direct vision; but only by reflection, and in anatomical dismemberment."
- Thomas Carlyle -

(1) Scandals in Obama's administration(2) Syria(3) Benghazi(4) Free Speech(5) The Gosnell trial and it's implications for the pro-choice/pro-life debate.(6) NSA and FBI downloading all data online, using a supercomputer system in Utah to break the encryption and running anti-government algorithms on all online communication.(7)(8)(9)(10)

(1) Scandals in Obama's administration(2) Syria(3) Benghazi(4) Free Speech(5) The Gosnell trial and it's implications for the pro-choice/pro-life debate.(6) NSA and FBI downloading all data online, using a supercomputer system in Utah to break the encryption and running anti-government algorithms on all online communication.(7)(8)(9)(10)

Your name makes me think of askbob.

Airmax told me about him and said he had the same concern. Looks like i picked the wrong username to get started on this site with. Is there a way to edit the name?

Of course I'm using those fallacies; they're the only logical ones." - f3ffy

(1) Scandals in Obama's administration(2) Syria(3) Benghazi(4) Free Speech(5) The Gosnell trial and it's implications for the pro-choice/pro-life debate.(6) NSA and FBI downloading all data online, using a supercomputer system in Utah to break the encryption and running anti-government algorithms on all online communication.(7)(8)(9)(10)

Your name makes me think of askbob.

Airmax told me about him and said he had the same concern. Looks like i picked the wrong username to get started on this site with. Is there a way to edit the name?

(1) Scandals in Obama's administration(2) Syria(3) Benghazi(4) Free Speech(5) The Gosnell trial and it's implications for the pro-choice/pro-life debate.(6) NSA and FBI downloading all data online, using a supercomputer system in Utah to break the encryption and running anti-government algorithms on all online communication.(7) Moral relativism(8)(9)(10)

"In case anyone hasn't noticed it, the West is in extremis. The undertaker is checking his watch at the foot of its bed, and there's a sinister kettle of croaking, money-feathered vultures on the roof."